DGW 36 Preview

Hello and welcome to this Double GameWeek edition of the preview. I’ll start off by outlining the injury doubts for the entire of the round, and finish by mentioning how the teams should get on as well as analysing any chance of player rotation. Let’s do this.

From an FPL perspective, there are three main outs which you MUST offload this week- Giroud, Sessegnon and Turner.

There is a surprisingly low amount of FPL relevant players who are currently a doubt, with Wilson the only main concern.

As we’re going into the DGW- I’d be offloading all the aforementioned players- 3 weeks until the end of the season is not the time to risk a zero!

Firstly, if you have lived under a rock this week, these teams have the Double:

ChelseaMan CityTottenhamWiganWest BromSwansea

Chelsea: (Man United (A), Tottenham (H)).

Some are tentative in regards to Chelsea for the double- but I’m not worried. Yes, rotation will be an absolute bitch, but there is the propensity for the blues to knock in quite a few goals.

Admittedly, defensively they are likely to concede, with their last ties against these two both seeing them concede 2 goals each fixture. Offensively though, they managed to thump in 6 goals during this time. Manchester United looked largely disinterested last week, and with SAF rotating his squad for experience, the chance for an upset is there. Against Tottenham both teams will be relentless, as the London derbies are always high scoring.

Mata, Hazard and Ba are all quality options, but rotation will play a factor, with 3 games before their May 15 final against Benfica. If you have them, hold them, but don’t pick any players up expecting consistent minutes.

Man City: (Swansea (H), West Brom (A) ).

Man City are also a risk of rotation, thanks to their FA Cup final with Wigan looming on the Horizon. Although they could field a weaker side against the relegation battlers, Martinez will want to whack out his full arsenal and thump them into submission. Their first opponents, Swansea, tend to concede whilst at home as they try to play tiki taka past their opposition and are left exposed on the counter. West Brom are significantly worse away as well, meaning that Man City have a solid platform to score.

Personally, I can see Aguero and Tevezstarting one game a piece, with Dzeko an outside chance to start both. Zabaleta is under threat by Richards, and personally I can see him missing one game, as he’s held down that RB slot all season and deserves a break. Likewise with Clichy, Kolarov is almost a certainty to get a look in before the FA Cup final.

Tottenham: Southampton (H), Chelsea (A).

I can honestly see Tottenham banging in a LOT of goals this weekend. Since Southampton have been secured next season in the PL, they have failed to win a game, whilst conceding 3 goals to West Brom AT HOME last week. I can see goals flying in here as Tottenham look to secure European football next year.

Against Chelsea, as previously mentioned, goals will come thick and fast as they always do. The problem with Tottenham is that, outside of Bale, nobody besides Vertonghen, Dawson or Walker are locked into their team. Dembele is a slight doubt, while Lennon is coming back from injury and prone to resting, while Holtby and Dempsey will threaten each others spot.

For me, just lock in Bale and then jack yourself when he nets 3 goals.

Wigan: (West Brom (A), Swansea, (H). )

Wigan Wigan Wigan. I say it every week- what the effing hell do I predict with you. I predict one thing. Goals at both ends. They have the advantage of playing two mid-tabled sides that have nothing to play for and are just trying to get to the end of the season unscathed. In theory, Wigan shouldn’t score many goals, as Swansea are a bitch of an away side to penetrate, while West Brom’s home defensive record is as good as any sides. In practice however, we know Wigan are a different kettle of fish.

Figueroa is out for the year, so DONT bring him in. Kone will definitely start both games, as will the instrumental Maloney. Outside of these two options- I wouldn’t be trusting any others with spots in my team.

West Brom: (Wigan (H), Man City (A). )

I’m not overly impressed by any of the West Brom options, other than Lukaku. He is the only player that has anything to play for at West Brom, but one thing worries me with him. With the Baggies’ season done and dusted, will they play the Belgian both games given that he won’t be there next season? My gut is telling me he will start both, and I’m 90% sure that he will- it’s just something at the back of my head that’s flashing a danger sign.

Against Wigan, they should have little trouble scoring, it just depends on how much they want it. Man City away however, will be an extremely tough egg to crack, especially with their poor away record.

West Brom’s draw doesn’t give me too much confidence, especially given the imposing figure of Man City away in front of them, meaning that Lukaku is the only FPL option I’d be banking on a points return from.

Swansea [Man City (H), Wigan (A) ]

Swansea are the team I’m least confident on this GameWeek. A home game against City will leave them with a tough task, while we all know how boring they are when they play away, even though it is against Wigan. Since winning the Capital One Cup, they’ve hit a lull in form since securing survival, where they apparently have nothing to play for.

Their main options are Michu and to a lesser extent De Guzman, only because he is on penalty duties. If you have any of these two, brilliant- but I wouldn’t bet on huge returns from them. Michu as we all know is bloody inconsistent after all.

So that’s my analysis of the DGW sides, but what about the others?

the Fulham v Reading game will be an absolute bore, but if you still have Berbatov or Ruiz they should be in with a good chance to score- as Reading will no doubt give their intended Championship Squad a taste of PL action.

Norwichv Villa should be a home win to Villa. Without Turner they will struggle to contain Benteke, while Norwich will do little more than play for the draw. I checked the odds and Villa were $3.50 to win… which is absolute value.

West Ham v Newcastle will be another interesting one, as Newcastle, by Pardew’s own admission, are in the thick of the relly battle. Newcastle have managed one away win all year, while managing to concede 6 goals last week. West Ham will put in a typically West Ham performance, and I’m tipping Andy Carroll to continue to give Liverpool something to think about last season- look to see him up and about in the penalty box.

QPR v Arsenal should be an absolute rout to the gunners- especially with Walcott playing at CF and running at the likes of Clint Hill. Arsenal are $1.50 to win which is absolute value given how much the game means to them, and how little it means to QPR.

The merseyside derby will be typically fiery, and while I can’t see either side keeping clean sheets, I think there will be a lot of action in the box. I’m tipping a Baines penalty… called it here first, while Sturridge and Coutinho will continue to be potent if you are that way inclined.

Finally, Sunderland take on Stoke with both sides needing a point to distance themselves from the scrap beneath them. I reckon it’ll fall that way as well, with a 0-0 definitely on the cards given Stoke’s defensive mindset and Sunderland’s string puller Sessegnon leaving them without their counter attacking threat.

That’s all for this week, hope you enjoy what is set to be the final GW which should be fruitful. If it fails… well we’ve all wasted another DGW!

3 comments on “DGW 36 Preview”

am gaining on my rival at the top of the table and a good doublegameweek should get me up there within striking distance. have mata, bale in for this dgw. i still have stam in my side. wigan got two games but should i field him?